PPG Expects Data Center Paint Sales to Triple Amid AI Boom

Rising demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure is driving a surge in specialized paint sales at PPG, the Pittsburgh-based coatings manufacturer, which expects its data center paint sales to triple in 2026 compared with the previous year as Microsoft, Google, Amazon and other technology companies expand their computing facilities.

PPG, a company valued at $24 billion, expects growth in its data center coatings business to substantially outpace its overall performance. The company reported total sales of $4.5 billion in its most recent quarter, an increase of 7 percent, according to the source report.

One of its flagship products for data centers is Steelguard 951, a fire-resistant coating designed to protect structural steel during a fire. The material expands dramatically when exposed to intense heat, forming a thick, insulating layer that helps prevent the underlying steel from reaching temperatures that could weaken it.

At PPG's testing facility in Allison Park, Pennsylvania, researchers demonstrated the coating's performance by directing torches at steel panels covered with the paint. After exposure to flames, the coating expanded from approximately one millimeter thick to a black crust nearly 10 millimeters tall.

Paul Fenton, a senior research chemist and test engineer at PPG, explained the expansion process during the demonstration.

"Just like a toasted marshmallow likes to expand," said Fenton.

Fenton, who wore a lab coat and safety goggles over wire-frame glasses, explained that the expanded material traps air, helping insulate the steel from heat.

"keeps everything cold," Fenton said, describing the role of the trapped air.

The coating's expansion creates a protective barrier between the flames and the structural steel. By limiting heat transfer, the material is designed to help keep the steel from softening during a fire.

PPG's growing sales reflect the construction push by major technology companies seeking additional computing capacity for artificial intelligence. Data centers require infrastructure to house and operate the systems used for AI workloads, creating demand for specialized building materials, including coatings designed to improve fire protection.

The company's projected threefold increase in data center paint sales in 2026 highlights the scale of demand in this segment compared with PPG's broader business. Its overall sales growth was 7 percent in the most recent quarter, while the company anticipates substantially faster expansion in coatings used at data centers.